It is a major life decision for you or a loved one to enter a rehab program for drug or alcohol addiction. Most people have many questions about the process and often wonder what happens in rehab, what should you expect, and how does rehab work. A client will receive different care depending on the program and therapy chosen, but most rehabs follow a similar treatment structure. But even though there are many similarities in treatment protocols, each rehab will be unique in a number of aspects.

Here are some of the more common standard treatment protocols used by most centers:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Individual Counseling Exercise Therapy

12 Step Model Group Therapy

Mindfulness Techniques

An addiction rehab program functions by providing structure for the recovering addict or alcoholic. The individually tailored plan that is formulated for each client works within this structure to allow the addict to focus on learning new skills that will help to keep them clean and sober.

Most rehab programs will also use some of the following techniques as well:

You can make more informed decisions if you or your loved one has a good idea of what to expect in rehab. Decisions like choosing whether to attend an inpatient an outpatient treatment program.

A more comprehensive understanding of what happens in rehab, how it works, and what to expect can help you or your loved one choose a treatment model that works for your individual circumstances.

Beginnings Treatment Centers addiction treatment centers are located in beautiful and sunny Southern California in Orange County, which has one of the strongest and most active recovery communities in the United States. If you or a loved one is currently experiencing a problem with addiction, please Contact Beginnings Treatment Centers Now.

The Painkiller that Killed Prince

On April 21, 2016, Prince Rogers Nelson, singer, songwriter and cultural icon, was discovered to have overdosed in his Paisley Park studio. 6 days before this, Prince nearly died from percocet overdose, a painkiller opioid addiction that prince struggled with for years after suffering from hip problems. Initially it was assumed percocet was the cause of death. Following the autopsy, the true culprit was identified, Fentanyl. An even more powerful painkiller.

What is the Definition of an Addict?

This seems like a simple question, an addict is someone who has a condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. But what is addiction? According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is defined as a primary chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry.

For hundreds of thousands of years, our brain’s reward system ensures our survival by rewarding us when we engage in survival related activities, such as eating, mating, or even escaping. This system has been working for us all of this time, though it sometimes can become smart for its own good by finding ways to exploit the reward system. This often can happen by taking external substances. Unfortunately, with an overabundance of reward chemicals in the system, our bodies would respond to it by reducing the natural reward production, or reducing the receptors involved in the reward system. Slowly, the body builds tolerance to the external substances, causing the need for higher dosages. This forces the user to chase a high that cannot be reached, but yet they cannot function without it, gradually forming a disease called addiction. Addiction often leads to changes in behavior and emotional responses that can cause dysfunctions in personal relationships. If addiction goes untreated, it can become dangerous and in some cases, lethal.

Signs of an Addict?

Inability to quit using the substance or partaking in an activity.

Impairment in behavioral control

Withdrawal and cravings

Diminished recognition of significant problems

A dysfunctional Emotional response.

Am I an Addict?

No one intends on being an addict, we are often convinced that we can handle it, or can stop at any time. Which could be the case when starting out, but slowly the dependency builds up, and it becomes an addiction. Recognizing the addiction is the first step you can take towards a positive and healthy way to manage it. Below is a list of questions that can help you recognize the addiction.

Have you failed repeatedly to resist the impulses to use?

Do the impulses come frequently and become stronger the longer you resist?

Do you go through cycles of multiple attempts to stop, only to relapse?

Do you spend a lot of time to obtain and engage in a specific substance or activity?

Do you neglect your responsibilities and obligations in favor of your addiction?

Have you engaged in destructive behavior, knowing in advance that it would have negative effects on your social, financial, academic, and physical endeavors?

Do you find the need to increase the dosage, frequency, or intensity and risk partaking in destructive behaviors to satisfy the impulse?

Do you suffer from withdrawal symptoms when the impulse to engage was not met? Such as distress, anxiety, or violence, etc

I might be an addict, what do I do now?

There is no magic bullet, coping with addiction requires commitment and a long-term plan to maintain it. You do not have to try and tackle the problem alone. Reach out to your close family and friends as well as a professional in the field of addiction. Consider the social networks you are engaged in. Quit those which may have a negative impact on you and join those which you feel may help. It is important to have family and friends that would support your commitment and not encourage and enable the addiction. Surrounding yourself with positive influences and people you can turn to for encouragement and guidance greatly increase the chances for recovery.

How do I get treatment for my opiate addiction?

The first step is to recognize that you need help and ask for it. Support groups, like Narcotics Anonymous, are available as well as a wide variety of medications used to treat the symptoms of withdrawal. For instance, Clonidine is used to help reduce the symptoms acquired within the first 24 hours of withdrawal. Buprenorphine or Suboxone is a drug that both eases withdrawal symptoms and detoxifies the body against opiates. Being a mild opiate itself, it is commonly used to treat patients withdrawing from more addictive drugs like Oxycontin and Heroin. Methadone, which is still a powerful opiate, is used for long-term detoxification administered by clinics and is slowly reduced to help addicts quit over an extended period.

What are opiates?

Opiates mimic substances that occur naturally in our brain called endorphins, helping to decrease anxiety and depression as well as reducing pain in minor injuries, such as paper cuts and bruises. Opiates are also responsible for you not noticing you have a cut until you look directly at it. However, stronger opiates are needed for bigger injuries such as surgery or broken bones. Some opiates are as follows:

Alcoholism can be traced back to genetics since ancient times and with the advancement of genetic screening techniques and technology in recent decades, these hypotheses can finally be put to the test. Utilizing proven methods of case-control study, population study, and family study, researchers have been able to identify numerous genes that may contribute to alcoholism.